November 9, 2025 • 36 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Get the hell out of dodge and head to Eroine Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome aboard first Safe flight eleven oh nine to Berlin.
Your captain flying this plane is Siri Stafey and I'm
Kylon Tally, your lead flight attendant today. Before we take off,
please make sure your radio is on and in its
upright position to ninety three one FM for the remainder
of the flight. Other flight time today will be a
brief of fifty five minutes. We should have smooth conditions
(00:31):
unless Captain Stacey decides to be prefer a turbulence. Reminder,
keep your drink in your hand, especially when the drink
light is on for your safety. Cursing is prohibited throughout
the aircraft, and if they aren't already, we do highly
recommend switching your devices to game jay mode. Our aircraft
has zero emergency exits, so you will have to stay
dialed in for the rest of the hour. Thank you
(00:52):
for choosing to fly with us today on first day.
We're glad you're here and looking forward to serving you
the rest of the way through Berlin.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Had a girl, Kylan, that's beautiful. It's as day. It's
kam Day eleven oh seven. Good morning, everybody.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Terry Stacy along with Kylin Talley Denny is off today
and this is the first day show.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Thank you so much for tuning in this morning.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I know Colts are on and we are here just
until noon when we get you set for IU basketball. Ie,
you taken on Marquette, but our seven and two colts
are in Germany. You're probably watching right now. It is halftime.
They're taking on the Falcons and they looks like up
to this point, up until this day, they have been
having the best time in Berlin, and it is a
(01:35):
very historic day as well there too. But they have
built a playground. They've been very active and busy in Berlin.
Right now on the phone with us from the game
is the twenty twenty three International Colts Fan of the
Year Christoph Marshall.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Christoph, Hi, my god, follow you.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
We're great?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Are you? You're at the game?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
You're at the game?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I see themselves end a jumps me some reason to
be of.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Colts are trailing at halftime third fourteen to thirteen, and
Christoph Marshal is with us. We do have a little
bit of a a little bit of a muddy sound. Christoph,
we're going to check that line for a minute. Let's
try Let's try this. How long let see if we
can get a clearer sound. How long have you been
a die hard Colts fan.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And bull run songs?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Kilen, I'm afraid we're not having any We're having a
little trouble here in you Christoph. Unfortunately you're in Berlin,
so I'm not I know it's probably tough, and you're
at the Colts game. It's been a lot of fun
to watch. As I mentioned, as we follow them on
social media. Blue is such a huge hit in Berlin,
just as he is here but having the best time.
They did build a playground for some kids there in Berlin,
(03:00):
but it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And again it's a historic day there.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Thirty five years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell November ninth,
nineteen eighty nine during the Peaceful Revolution, marking the beginning
of the destruction of the figurative Iron Curtain as East
Berlin transit restrictions were overwhelmed and discarded. It was one
of the series of events that started the fall of
(03:24):
communism in Central and Eastern Europe. This is Terry Stacy
along with Kylin Talley. We're trying to get a better
connection with our twenty twenty three International Colts Fan of
the Year, who is there. He's been to the Colts
game several times and from what I remember hearing about him,
he's been a Colts fan for about ten years and
he's a president of the Blue Crew Europe. And he
(03:46):
tells us that there are quite a few fans in Germany.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
We got him.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Yes, hopefully this will do a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Hey Christoph, are you there?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
All right?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
You're lower there you go. What's the atmosphere like right now?
Where you inside of this beautiful uh place that you're in,
this stadium, Olympic Stadium.
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Uh, the Trooders fired up, the Crows game all a fighting.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Uh, now we.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Start to second hives. It's really nice to be here.
All fans are really really fired up.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Are there more? Do you think there are more Colts
fans there than Falcons fans?
Speaker 1 (04:30):
For sure? That's a good question. I think, Uh, we
have much fans of all teams, but the most cold friends.
I think the hive of the stadium is new.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
That's so cool being the president of Blue Crew Europe. Yeah,
I think you've done a great job pulling all of
the fans together. But that also goes with all of
the pre game day activities and everything leading up to
this game. Talk about the full experience so far up
to this game too.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Yeah, I'm well and signed. Saturday forty events working with
the Courts together with a watch party at Steena's. Then
signs uh Thursday the Courts after Santa as the Coats House.
It is a really amazing place, a big stage, tick
a challenge, whide receiver challenge, some legends, really amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's so cool.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
How did how did you become interested in American football?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Christoph?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And I was names starting. Yeah, some late nights watching TV,
so what's up the control kind of thought. So I
was looking at and the love was beginning. And then
Pose nine comes Peyton Manning with a forty zero start
in the season.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Oh, that's so cool. So it was Peyton Manning.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
It was some of those that those players that you
fell in love with, and it was such a fun time.
So you've been a Colts fan for a long while,
but this is not your first Colt.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Colt game you've been have you been here a few
times to the United States?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, my first time was called twenty three against the Giants,
in New York. Then one year later, after the franksled game,
I was against the Texas and I'll see I was
five weeks in November down for the games in Minnesota
(06:29):
against DETROYDA Birds, so ending against the Jets, and was
really amazing to be down.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
I love all of the traveling that's being done from
you guys coming over here and then US coming to you.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Guys.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Have you met any US fans there at the stands
right now?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So much? Then, guys, I know some of the Lucrude
the best no Friend club in the US and all
to say family after the coach Jenice Hotman, so and
(07:08):
much more, guys like cried some men the podcast and
so amazing. I think you know what's he asked, guys.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh that's so cool.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Okay, So part of the game day experience, Christoph is
food and so in Olympic Stadium. What kind of what
is the food that you're having today? What have you eaten?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Hot dogs?
Speaker 8 (07:39):
I like hot dogs are good, but not like a
slab a strudlen't outside you know. Before we let you go,
I do want to mention, as we said, it's a
very historic day in Berlin with the the the anniversary
thirty five years ago with the Berlin while that fed
(08:00):
on this date in nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Are you old enough to remember that day?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
No I was born in US you.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Oh boor.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Five months?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So yeah you were?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
You were?
Speaker 7 (08:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Obviously too young not They're right, Okay, we're gonna let
you go, Christoph, have the best time. We give us
a Colts cheer before we let you go from Berlin.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Let's go cold.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
The game has a third quarter just beginning, Colts trailing
fourteen thirteenth against the Falcons in Olympic Stadium. Thank you
so much, Christoph.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Congratulations twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
You still live in that dream of becoming a Colts
legend and you really are as you received that International
Colts Fan of the Year.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Thank you so much, Christoph. Have fun.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Thank you, You do the same.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Well, go cold?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
All right? This week we're going to salute our veterans,
and we've got my conversation with the Vietnam vet who
decided it's time to tell his story after all these
years of staying silent.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
That's coming up next. Stright here on.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
The first day, Thanks for being here ninety three WIBC.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
When America honors its veterans.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Stories like this one remind us why we've got a
really special guest today. And a Veterans Day approaches, a
lot of Americans will pause to say thank you to
those who served.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
But if you truly.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Understand what it takes for a veteran to share what
those years cost and joining us now is retired Lieutenant
Colonel William L. McCarran, who spent decades avoiding that question
a lot of questions about his time in Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Colonel mc mccaren. We are so happy to have you
with us. How are you, sir, I'm doing fun.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Thank you, Thank you for serving our country first and foremost,
and thank you for sharing some time with us today.
Colonel mccaren is telling his story in his new book.
It's titled And the Tears Flowed. How old were you
when you went to Vietnam to fight on the front line?
Speaker 5 (10:06):
I was an old man, prepared to most kids. Most
kids they're seventeen, eighteen nineteen. I was twenty five.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You were twenty five. How long did you.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Serve I served twenty four and a half years and
retired to take a civilian job in the Pentagon.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
That's are mind listeners that fifty eight, two d and
twenty United States service members died in Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Did you believe that you'd make it home?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, you did not be.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Here, to be honest. No, when you're a platoon leader
in Vietnam, much like you radio operators, your main target
of the enemy if they can take out the leadership,
all to their benefit. So no, I did not.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Think i'd ever make it that part of your Vietnam
experience that must have shaped you both as a soldier.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
And a man, you know. I returned from Vietnam in
nineteen sixty seven. I was unmarried at the time, but
later that year I married. People would ask me about Vietnam,
and I just wouldn't talk about it. My normal response
was if you weren't there, you will never understand. And
I felt that truly. It was hard for me to
(11:20):
come to Grips and be able to explain some of
the stuff I went through. And I guess I was
that way until I went to my first Vietnam reunion
in nineteen eighty six. There was only twenty two. It
was after reunion. It was a battalion reunion, but twenty
two charter members. Of course, when you get together with
(11:41):
comrades and orange you start talking. I think we blew
our wives. Second, it was the first time they heard
what went on, and my wife even said later, I
can't believe what you went through. It's hard to explain,
but that was the way it was. I arrived the
hotel checked in. The first person I saw was my
(12:03):
former first stargant in Vietnam, and of course it was
great seeing him. But what was even greater when I
went to unload my vehicle, the door of the motel
room open and it was my first company commander, Roy Martin.
We started talking and it was easy for me from
then on to talk about my experiences. And like I said,
(12:27):
when we sat around in the hospitality room and started
talking among each other, the wife were hearing stories that
they had never heard, and they were flabbergasting and they
understood why we were did some of the things we did.
I mean, I was never violent towards my wife, but
(12:50):
i'd be short tempered. I have PTSD. I do you know,
go off on people. I don't know. I don't want
to say stupid people, but they hit me, they hit
me wrong, and I feel their students but I let
them know.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Pleasure heart.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This is retired Lieutenant Colonel William McCarran, and he's written
a book and it's called And the Tears Flowed a
Vietnam veteran. Many Vietnam veterans have struggled with how to
share their experiences. How did it feel to remember that
time in your life and then put it down on paper.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Well, I started that book years ago, Like I said,
I actually bought a computer in two thousand and three
with the main intention of writing your book. But then
I've sit down at the computer, try to put my
thoughts together, try to start putting stuff on paper, and
I just couldn't do it. I just I might write
a paragraph or something, and I just I can't do this.
(13:48):
I can't. My wife kept urging me. You know, she's deceased,
but she kept urging me, you need to put it
on paper, you need to write this book. So she
passed away in twenty seventeen. In twenty twenty three New
Year's Resolution, I said, I'm going to write that book,
(14:09):
and I'm going to finish it before I go to
my next Vietnam reunion. I kept a lot of stuff
so I could read it and pull it right back
into my memory. And then I could sit and start typing.
And that was going in and pulling out the pictures
of those who didn't make it, because that's what the
book's about. It's to recognizing these young men fought for
(14:34):
their country and died for their country. And I named
the book, and the tears flowed because people read the
book and they find out when we got ambushed and
I lost my radio telephone operator. He was killing action.
After that battle, like eleven o'clock at night, I'd gotten
people into position, and then I just sat down and
(14:54):
I couldn't stop crying.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
And the tears flowed. That's the name of the book,
and now we know why.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Guess what it was the same after all the battle
the same. I guess the dramma just flown so strong,
and after it's all over, it just comes out. The
publishing company has thought I should come up with another title.
I said, no, that's the title I want.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Yeah, do you want to tell us about what you
remember most vividly about your time in Vietnam? The sites,
the sounds, the people. Is it just awful memories or
are there are some good memories in there too?
Speaker 5 (15:28):
There's always some good memories. I mean, I made friends,
we've stayed friends through all of you here. The sad
part is now most of the people I served with
they passed on, you know, they came home from Vietnam.
They live good lives, but they're now recent age where
I mean, let's say it, I'm eighty five years old.
Of course, most almost all of them that served when
(15:50):
I was there my first tour, they were like eighteen, nineteen,
twenty years old, and they're all they're all in the seventies,
our eighties now.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Your living history, and we need to hear your stories.
And I'm glad you're doing it.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
But I had good memories of those, but then I've
had the bad memories. I'm not sure that people understand
the life of an infantryman. You go into the field,
you might be out there a couple of weeks and
then come back to base cap but it's dirty, Grammy.
You're always afraid gonna get ambushed. Most of us were
(16:33):
in constant fear that we're going to walk into something.
In my opinion, people have this vision that we're fighting
their farmers during the day and their guerrillas at night.
That's not true that these were well trained, well prepared soldiers,
North Vietnamese soldiers. That's mainly what we went up against.
(16:55):
We were fighting as well trained army. You know, the mosquitoes,
the heat that you just everything just it's always there.
I guess I'm connaissant, and you never get relief.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
You know, as we approach Veterans Day? What does that
day mean to you? Personally?
Speaker 5 (17:12):
It means everything. I lower my flag. I have a
statue of a soldier in my yard, and I adornate
with flags. I reflect always on the people's we lost.
If people look and read the book and see the
pictures of all the young men that just in our
(17:33):
battalion that died in the one year I was there,
they'd be amazed. I honor them all the time, not
just Veterans Day. I think about them all the time,
and I go to the reunion every year, and we
always had a memorial dinner in honor of those guys
that didn't make it.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
This book is called Again and the Tears Flowed?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Colonel. How do they get a copy of your book?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
It's available?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
I am okay. Has it been therapeutic to kind of
share your story? Now.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Absolutely, I've had a number of really nice compliments on
the book.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
We certainly are so grateful to you for your service
and your sacrifice in keeping our country safe and others
too around our world. And we are really grateful that
you wrote this book to and the tears flowed. You
can get it on Amazon and elsewhere. Thank you so
much for giving us your time today. Sir, take good
care of yourself and thank you again. God bless your heart.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
Gren I thank you appreciate opportunity to tell my story.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I want to remind you that the twenty twenty five
Veterans Day Parade here in Indianapolis is on Tuesday, starting
at noon and Michigan and Pennsylvania the parade will grout.
The parade route will go south on penn to New
York and then north to Meridian Street. I hope you'll
come out stand along the sidewalks show them your appreciation.
I know it means the world to them to see
you all. And marines they're celebrating two hundred and fifty
(18:55):
years Tomorrow. We'll talk to a Marine veteran's mom after
the break. This is the first day news is next
see United States Marine Corps celebrating their two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary on November tenth with various events that are nationwide.
And knowing that, I began searching for info on the
Marine Corps history and I came upon a fantastic community
(19:17):
online at marineparents dot com. I'm so excited to meet
the founder and Marine Mom and joining us now is
Tracy Della Vecia.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Hello, Tracy, Hi, Kerrie, thanks for inviting us to talk
with you. I appreciate it, but facular time to talk
about the Marine Corps.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Before we talk about marineparents dot com. Tell us about
your incredible son, Derek, who was in Marine boot camp
on nine to eleven.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (19:42):
Yeah, in boot camp on nine to eleven, and I
remember thinking, you know, he was there for two weeks
when nine to eleven happened, and I remember thinking, I've
got to get on a plane and I've got to
fly to San Diego and I've got a breaking home
and telling he's made a huge mistake. And I still
(20:04):
get teary eyed when I think about that. That that's
that's that's what I wanted to do. You know, our
country was going to go to war, and by going,
my son wasn't going to go to war.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
I was his.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
Protector and suddenly now he's my protector, and you know,
that's a that's a big change. That's a big, big
change for a mom who's, you know, afraid of war.
So it was it was pretty incredible. I can remember
coming back from what he flew back to Kansas City
(20:38):
with us, and then we drove to Columbia and where
you lived. There were American flags flying all over the place.
I'd never seen a fall with so much red, white
and blue in my life, and it was just incredible.
And I remember thinking that, you know, I had been
(21:00):
his protector and now he's my protector. And he's like,
don't worry, mom, that's what marines do.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
He knew he wanted to be a marine since he
was four.
Speaker 7 (21:11):
Yeah, four years old. Four years old, he would crawl
around on the back in the backyard, on his belly
and he was he was a marine. My dad had
was in the Vietnam War, and he had his black
jacket and combat boots and things like that. So there's this,
you know, little four year old boy putting on this
huge black jacket and these combat boots and crawling around
(21:32):
on his belly in the backyard.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
You say that the time leading up to his graduation,
which was Thanksgiving weekend, were the longest weeks of your life.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Well, the inevitability of going to war. But at that
point in time I was I was pretty naive. I thought,
you know, they're not going to send the new grunts
to war. Little little did I know that that's exactly
who they send a war. So, I mean, everybody goes.
(22:02):
You know, you're in the Marine Corps. Everybody's going. So
it just set unease and uncertainty of you know, I'm
sending my kid to war. You know, I grew up
in a military family. And even my mother at that
time she said, I have no idea. She sent my
(22:23):
dad off to war many times, you know, taking to
a flight and he was going back to Vietnam again,
back to Vietnam again, and I remember her saying, I
just can't imagine sending your child. And it was one
thing to send my husband to war, but another thing
altogether to send your child. So, you know, the same
(22:43):
son that would tell me he didn't know how to
turn the vacuum cleaner on, and he's going to go
sling an M sixteen. So yeah, a little bit of
trepidation there.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
The accident that Derek was involved with during the war,
You say that it will affect him in a profound
way for the rest of his life.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Oh it does, and uh I mean I still get
cheers in my eyes when I think about that. You know,
he was he was a radio operator and uh so
the calm guy. You know, he pushed forward all day
long with the battalion and then the end of the
at the end of the day, you know, the com
guys go backwards to change the crypto and the communication
(23:24):
system to the enemy doesn't get ahold of the messages
and things like that, so they go back in a humpy.
And they had to arrive along an irrigation canal, and
the humpy rolled over in the canal and water filled
the humpy and his friend, his fellow marine, William White,
drowned in the humpy and Derek worked really really hard
(23:50):
to save William and it didn't work out. It didn't
work out.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
What a tragedy.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
It's so sad.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I hope that Derek is able to find some piece,
knowing that he did everything it could and was by
his side until the very end. How long did Derek serve.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
He served four years, so you know, he wanted to
be a marine for the rest of his life. You know,
when he was four years old, that's all he was
going to be with a marine. But you know, at
that point in time, he had done three combat tours
back and forth for Iraq, and you just that was
all the war he could do. So he changed his
(24:30):
mind and became a civilian.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
But then there's homecoming, hundreds of other parents and wives
and family, and you said that you have never experienced
anything is overwhelmingly joyous in your life.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
Yeah, a most incredible event, that's for sure. And I
can't even describe the emotion of actually finally seeing him again.
And it's funny. The things that I remember are that, wait,
you're still dirty. He still had stand on him. Some
funny that those are the things that kind of stand
out my mind now after twenty plus years ago, twenty
(25:02):
three years ago, and he had two toothbrushes in his
kevlar pockets. They have these little things at the front,
and one was gray gray, the other one of the
brustles were black. And I'm like, why do we need
too and why are you hanging on with these nasty
old toothbrushes. He's like, well, pulls out the one with
the gray and he's like, this is the one I
brush my teeth with, and then pull out the other one.
(25:23):
He's like, this is the one that I cleaned my
weapon with. And I'm like, no, you know. Yeah. So
that was one of the first conversations that we had
was about these these horrible toothbrushes. And we sent thousands
and thousands of care packages over tes to marines when
we when our country was engaged, very very proud moments
(25:45):
as marine parents being able to ship these toothbrushes to
our kids over.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
So tell us about marine parents dot Com, which you
began in two thousand and three, and what parents of
marines will find there.
Speaker 7 (25:59):
I started it because at that time there wasn't one
place where you could find all the information, and the
Marine Corps didn't have help helpful things for parents. They
certainly helped spouses and that kind of thing, but not
for the parents of the Marines. So I started this
as a way to connect marine parents together to talk
about it. What is it like to send your kid
(26:21):
to war, and then what's it like when your kid
gets injured and then sadly what's it like when your
kid is killed overseas? And all of those families came
together in this beautiful space of being able to talk
about those very raw emotions of having sent our kids
(26:44):
to war, you know, and so drough the years, it's
evolved and changed. Like I said, we did care packages
for a while, We had the Warrior Support Team for
a while, we had a Purple Heart Hero Support varying
different programs the organization would do depending on where we
were in service to our country. And today it's evolved
(27:08):
to the point, you know, we were not engaged any longer.
We do certainly have deployments, but they're not the combat
zones train all day and pray all night that train
the war and pray you don't have to go to wars.
So through the years we've evolved to a variety of
different things. Right now because we don't have our troops
aren't engaged, which means in combat, we're focused on boot
(27:32):
camp and helping parents get through boot camp. And you
know that immediate fear that you have as a parent,
Wait a minute, my son or my daughter wants to
be a marine? Are you kidding me? So they can
come on board at Marine Parents. We have a place
to connect and share and that's been our registered trademark
for since I started the organization and connect with other
(27:55):
parents and family members who understand what it's like to
know that your kid just on the dotted line that
he or she would give his life for his country.
That's big stuff, you know. So, yeah, that's a big deal.
A lot of weoking so along with that.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, the Marines are celebrating their two hundred and fiftieth
birthday on November tenth.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
With us is Tracy Della Vecchio.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
She is a Marine mom and she's founder of Marineparents
dot Com. There's an interesting story about where the Marines
were born two hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
Ago as Tons Taverns. Yeah, and the reality is that
they used the bar as a meeting place and to
recruit individuals. It was it was actually the recruiting station.
But yeah, it's very fitting that the Marine cole is
born at Ton Tavern. And where is Ton tab Ton
Tavern isn't Philadelphia, but I mean it's not there anymore.
(28:52):
They have a rendition of what they think Ton Tavern
looks like then, but there's no actual photos of Ton Tavern.
It's kind of like that mythical legendary Ton Taverns.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
In this season of gratitude, What are you most thankful
for this year in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 7 (29:08):
Oh gosh, one of the things that I'm most thankful
for is that we were able to leap off of
the Facebook platform into an entirely different platform that people
are like, wait a minute, I don't get it. I
don't understand this. We're still able to hold their hands.
They still followed us there, They're still connecting with one another.
(29:29):
And even though we made this nad leaf of snakes
out into this entirely new platform, we're all still together.
And that I am thankful for.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Tracy Della Vecchia.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
She is a marine mom and founder of marineparents dot Com.
What a great support system it is for marine parents.
I hope you'll check that out and thank you for
spending time with us today as we celebrate the United
States Marine Corps two hundred and fiftieth anniversary on November tenth.
Speaker 7 (29:58):
And here's for the next two one hundred and fifty
years of the worrying courts. Harry, thank you, I appreciate
you very much. Take care.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
She's terrific. It is eleven forty six. It is day forty,
ladies and gentlemen, of the government shut down. As it continues,
it is certainly affected travel. But if it would, it'll
see the government opens up tomorrow. I mean they're meeting
again today. We'll see what happens. But let's see it
would open up tomorrow. Does everything at the airport go
right back to normal like a like a light switch.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Do flights run on time? No more delays, cancelations.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
We've got a travel expert that will join us next
here on the first day ninety three WIBC. It's eleven
fifty two colts trailing in this fourth quarter, fourteen minutes
to go, thirteen or seventeen thirteen colts behind.
Speaker 9 (30:43):
Come on.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
A lot of time on the clock, A lot of
time a clock on the clock in Berlin. It is
day forty of the government shut down. This country's a mess.
Let's just say it. FAA has reduced air traffic by
I think four percent on Friday across those high volume markets,
and India is on that list and saying ten percent
by the end of this week. If the shutdown continues again.
Senate meeting again today maybe later this afternoon, we'll see Kyle.
(31:07):
And I spoke with Amanda Steele. She's the owner of
Indie Travel Leaders indie travel leaders dot com, and we
asked her if if she's got if she's got a
flight going out tomorrow or in the next couple of days,
what concerns it would she have as a travel expert.
Speaker 9 (31:24):
So the first thing I would think of is ten percent.
It seems like a big number, but let's remember ten percent.
It's not huge. There will be some place impacted, but
ten percent we can manage that. First thing I would
tell myself, I'm going to get there early. If my
flight's at six am, I'm going to plan to get
there too. If not three hours ahead of that, the
earlier is the better, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
You know, we've got people that have asked us, you know, hey,
I'm thinking about Thanksgiving two weeks away. If the government
shutdown ends right now, does everything in the travel industry
then go right back to normal?
Speaker 9 (31:55):
It typically will. We have to think that this is
affecting the airlines and a whole big skill sledge your scale.
So they're going to try to get those routes back
in order as quick as they can. They want to
get back on schedule just as much as we want
them to get back on schedule. So knowing that Thanksgiving
is just around the corner, we've got Christmas, We've got
two of our biggest peak seasons coming up, they're going
to get back on tracks just as soon as they
(32:16):
absolutely can.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
The worry is if it doesn't, should people be looking
to change their holiday plans and work around something that
may continue into December.
Speaker 9 (32:26):
Absolutely, and that's one thing that will do so. As
travel agents, we always have to plan ahead. So I
know I have several clients that are traveling here this weekend.
I checked in with them just letting them know, you know, hey,
you could have a flight that's affected, Just letting them know.
Flexibility is important. Of course, we don't want to have
to pivot, we don't want to have to make changes,
but we can. A couple of things to keep in
(32:46):
mind when you're traveling downloading the airlines apps. If you're
traveling on America and if you're on Southwest, if you
have that app, it's such a pivotal tool when you're traveling.
That'll help you even chat with the airline directly, so
instead of waiting in that long line for customer service.
You can get on the chat and say, hey, my
flight's been affected, can you help me make that change?
An airlines skan, that's what we're here to do too.
(33:08):
We're kind of an airline backup in situations like that.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
What should we know about our rights as a passenger
if our trip is delayed or canceled.
Speaker 9 (33:16):
So, if your flight is canceled, if it's what they
if it's canceled or delayed significantly, with significant delays or
cancelations the airlines, you are entitled to a refund by
the airline. Now if it's a minor delay, if it's
a twenty thirty minute delay, that's a different story. If
it is a true cancelation, you are entitled to a refund,
assuming that you didn't book anything in a base economy fare.
(33:37):
If it's a true airline main cabin fare, that's something
to keep in mind.
Speaker 5 (33:41):
If it's a.
Speaker 9 (33:42):
Cancel's flight again delay is there a different story. If
it's in this connection, the airlines will help you rebook
those two.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
Kylan, I'm sure you've been giving a lot of ease
to your clients who are booking some travel plans right now,
especially with the government shut down that also has affected
air control traffic ployees. Have you had to do anything
or have you seen anything around that and some of
the shortage that we've had with air traffic controllers.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (34:08):
The one thing that I have noticed is the lines
at the airport for TSA to get the security They
are longer. So I'm just telling as many clients as
I can please get there early because you just never
know what to expect with those lines. That I think
is our biggest change right now, just with those wait times.
I know that a lot of the airports around the
country are feeling that they're busy. There's a lot of
(34:30):
passengers and unfortunately they just don't have the staff right
now to handle the amount of passengers that they have.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Amanda Steele.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
She's the owner of Indie Travel Leaders indie travel leaders
dot com. They specialize in fun and family and romance. Okay,
any other tips or advice to our listeners right now
that are traveling here over the next few days, over
the next couple of weeks for holiday travel.
Speaker 9 (34:54):
Yes, the best thing I can tell you pack your patients.
Pack your patients. Be flexible. If you have to pivot,
you have to. I know we don't always like change that.
Sometimes we just don't have the option. Travel insurance is
a huge, huge feature. It's one of those that I
always will offer to my clients. You never know when
you might need and if you have a flight delay,
if you have them in the connection, that travel insurance
(35:15):
is just one more thing that we can fight for
if we need it.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
Is it ugly out there, it's a while.
Speaker 9 (35:20):
It's one of those I mean, we've been through it all.
This is just one more challenge at work, face to it.
But we're here to help. We're here to help our
clients and that's what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
You're terrific, all right.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
If anybody would like to get in touch with Amanda
and her crew, you go to.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Again Indie travel leaders dot com. Amanda Steel. I'm sorry, Kylie,
I have.
Speaker 6 (35:38):
One more question. Yeah, we've talked so much about the
wild and the crazy, but you do specialize in fun
and family.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Can we end on a flight there? Travel story that
you've had over this year like one of the best,
I don't know, one of the best trips that you've
planned this year.
Speaker 9 (35:52):
Especially Europe has been huge. I've had a lot with
Europe I've done a lot with river cruises, I've done
a lot with the Mediterranean Lasca. This year has been huge.
That's been a really big one. Gosh, I wish I
could say, you know, this is one that really stood out,
but we do so much around the world. It's every
trip to us being something. We appreciate all the clients
that trust us to build those trips for them.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Amanda, thank you. We sure appreciate you come back and
see us.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
Absolutely, Thank you, guys, Thank you so much, Amanda, and
thank you for listening. Go cults and bundle up in
this weather ahead of us.
Speaker 7 (36:26):
I you.
Speaker 6 (36:26):
Marquette basketball coming up next on ninety three WIVC.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Have a great week.
Get the hell out of dodge and head to Eroine Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome aboard first Safe flight eleven oh nine to Berlin.
Your captain flying this plane is Siri Stafey and I'm
Kylon Tally, your lead flight attendant today. Before we take off,
please make sure your radio is on and in its
upright position to ninety three one FM for the remainder
of the flight. Other flight time today will be a
brief of fifty five minutes. We should have smooth conditions
(00:31):
unless Captain Stacey decides to be prefer a turbulence. Reminder,
keep your drink in your hand, especially when the drink
light is on for your safety. Cursing is prohibited throughout
the aircraft, and if they aren't already, we do highly
recommend switching your devices to game jay mode. Our aircraft
has zero emergency exits, so you will have to stay
dialed in for the rest of the hour. Thank you
(00:52):
for choosing to fly with us today on first day.
We're glad you're here and looking forward to serving you
the rest of the way through Berlin.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
Had a girl, Kylan, that's beautiful. It's as day. It's
kam Day eleven oh seven. Good morning, everybody.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Terry Stacy along with Kylin Talley Denny is off today
and this is the first day show.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Thank you so much for tuning in this morning.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I know Colts are on and we are here just
until noon when we get you set for IU basketball. Ie,
you taken on Marquette, but our seven and two colts
are in Germany. You're probably watching right now. It is halftime.
They're taking on the Falcons and they looks like up
to this point, up until this day, they have been
having the best time in Berlin, and it is a
(01:35):
very historic day as well there too. But they have
built a playground. They've been very active and busy in Berlin.
Right now on the phone with us from the game
is the twenty twenty three International Colts Fan of the
Year Christoph Marshall.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Christoph, Hi, my god, follow you.
Speaker 5 (01:58):
We're great?
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Are you? You're at the game?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Right?
Speaker 3 (02:00):
You're at the game?
Speaker 1 (02:02):
I see themselves end a jumps me some reason to
be of.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Colts are trailing at halftime third fourteen to thirteen, and
Christoph Marshal is with us. We do have a little
bit of a a little bit of a muddy sound. Christoph,
we're going to check that line for a minute. Let's
try Let's try this. How long let see if we
can get a clearer sound. How long have you been
a die hard Colts fan.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
And bull run songs?
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Kilen, I'm afraid we're not having any We're having a
little trouble here in you Christoph. Unfortunately you're in Berlin,
so I'm not I know it's probably tough, and you're
at the Colts game. It's been a lot of fun
to watch. As I mentioned, as we follow them on
social media. Blue is such a huge hit in Berlin,
just as he is here but having the best time.
They did build a playground for some kids there in Berlin,
(03:00):
but it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And again it's a historic day there.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Thirty five years ago today, the Berlin Wall fell November ninth,
nineteen eighty nine during the Peaceful Revolution, marking the beginning
of the destruction of the figurative Iron Curtain as East
Berlin transit restrictions were overwhelmed and discarded. It was one
of the series of events that started the fall of
(03:24):
communism in Central and Eastern Europe. This is Terry Stacy
along with Kylin Talley. We're trying to get a better
connection with our twenty twenty three International Colts Fan of
the Year, who is there. He's been to the Colts
game several times and from what I remember hearing about him,
he's been a Colts fan for about ten years and
he's a president of the Blue Crew Europe. And he
(03:46):
tells us that there are quite a few fans in Germany.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
We got him.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Yes, hopefully this will do a little bit better.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Hey Christoph, are you there?
Speaker 1 (03:55):
All right?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
You're lower there you go. What's the atmosphere like right now?
Where you inside of this beautiful uh place that you're in,
this stadium, Olympic Stadium.
Speaker 7 (04:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Uh, the Trooders fired up, the Crows game all a fighting.
Speaker 5 (04:17):
Uh, now we.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Start to second hives. It's really nice to be here.
All fans are really really fired up.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Are there more? Do you think there are more Colts
fans there than Falcons fans?
Speaker 1 (04:30):
For sure? That's a good question. I think, Uh, we
have much fans of all teams, but the most cold friends.
I think the hive of the stadium is new.
Speaker 6 (04:43):
That's so cool being the president of Blue Crew Europe. Yeah,
I think you've done a great job pulling all of
the fans together. But that also goes with all of
the pre game day activities and everything leading up to
this game. Talk about the full experience so far up
to this game too.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Yeah, I'm well and signed. Saturday forty events working with
the Courts together with a watch party at Steena's. Then
signs uh Thursday the Courts after Santa as the Coats House.
It is a really amazing place, a big stage, tick
a challenge, whide receiver challenge, some legends, really amazing.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's so cool.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
How did how did you become interested in American football?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Christoph?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And I was names starting. Yeah, some late nights watching TV,
so what's up the control kind of thought. So I
was looking at and the love was beginning. And then
Pose nine comes Peyton Manning with a forty zero start
in the season.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Oh, that's so cool. So it was Peyton Manning.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
It was some of those that those players that you
fell in love with, and it was such a fun time.
So you've been a Colts fan for a long while,
but this is not your first Colt.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Colt game you've been have you been here a few
times to the United States?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yeah, my first time was called twenty three against the Giants,
in New York. Then one year later, after the franksled game,
I was against the Texas and I'll see I was
five weeks in November down for the games in Minnesota
(06:29):
against DETROYDA Birds, so ending against the Jets, and was
really amazing to be down.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
I love all of the traveling that's being done from
you guys coming over here and then US coming to you.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Guys.
Speaker 6 (06:42):
Have you met any US fans there at the stands
right now?
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So much? Then, guys, I know some of the Lucrude
the best no Friend club in the US and all
to say family after the coach Jenice Hotman, so and
(07:08):
much more, guys like cried some men the podcast and
so amazing. I think you know what's he asked, guys.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Oh that's so cool.
Speaker 4 (07:19):
Okay, So part of the game day experience, Christoph is
food and so in Olympic Stadium. What kind of what
is the food that you're having today? What have you eaten?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Hot dogs?
Speaker 8 (07:39):
I like hot dogs are good, but not like a
slab a strudlen't outside you know. Before we let you go,
I do want to mention, as we said, it's a
very historic day in Berlin with the the the anniversary
thirty five years ago with the Berlin while that fed
(08:00):
on this date in nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 3 (08:01):
Are you old enough to remember that day?
Speaker 1 (08:05):
No I was born in US you.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Oh boor.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Five months?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
So yeah you were?
Speaker 1 (08:20):
You were?
Speaker 7 (08:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Obviously too young not They're right, Okay, we're gonna let
you go, Christoph, have the best time. We give us
a Colts cheer before we let you go from Berlin.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Let's go cold.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
There you go.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
The game has a third quarter just beginning, Colts trailing
fourteen thirteenth against the Falcons in Olympic Stadium. Thank you
so much, Christoph.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
Congratulations twenty twenty three.
Speaker 4 (08:46):
You still live in that dream of becoming a Colts
legend and you really are as you received that International
Colts Fan of the Year.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Thank you so much, Christoph. Have fun.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Thank you, You do the same.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Well, go cold?
Speaker 4 (09:01):
All right? This week we're going to salute our veterans,
and we've got my conversation with the Vietnam vet who
decided it's time to tell his story after all these
years of staying silent.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
That's coming up next. Stright here on.
Speaker 4 (09:12):
The first day, Thanks for being here ninety three WIBC.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
When America honors its veterans.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Stories like this one remind us why we've got a
really special guest today. And a Veterans Day approaches, a
lot of Americans will pause to say thank you to
those who served.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
But if you truly.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
Understand what it takes for a veteran to share what
those years cost and joining us now is retired Lieutenant
Colonel William L. McCarran, who spent decades avoiding that question
a lot of questions about his time in Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Colonel mc mccaren. We are so happy to have you
with us. How are you, sir, I'm doing fun.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Thank you, Thank you for serving our country first and foremost,
and thank you for sharing some time with us today.
Colonel mccaren is telling his story in his new book.
It's titled And the Tears Flowed. How old were you
when you went to Vietnam to fight on the front line?
Speaker 5 (10:06):
I was an old man, prepared to most kids. Most
kids they're seventeen, eighteen nineteen. I was twenty five.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
You were twenty five. How long did you.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Serve I served twenty four and a half years and
retired to take a civilian job in the Pentagon.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
That's are mind listeners that fifty eight, two d and
twenty United States service members died in Vietnam.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Did you believe that you'd make it home?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
No, you did not be.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
Here, to be honest. No, when you're a platoon leader
in Vietnam, much like you radio operators, your main target
of the enemy if they can take out the leadership,
all to their benefit. So no, I did not.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Think i'd ever make it that part of your Vietnam
experience that must have shaped you both as a soldier.
Speaker 5 (10:58):
And a man, you know. I returned from Vietnam in
nineteen sixty seven. I was unmarried at the time, but
later that year I married. People would ask me about Vietnam,
and I just wouldn't talk about it. My normal response
was if you weren't there, you will never understand. And
I felt that truly. It was hard for me to
(11:20):
come to Grips and be able to explain some of
the stuff I went through. And I guess I was
that way until I went to my first Vietnam reunion
in nineteen eighty six. There was only twenty two. It
was after reunion. It was a battalion reunion, but twenty
two charter members. Of course, when you get together with
(11:41):
comrades and orange you start talking. I think we blew
our wives. Second, it was the first time they heard
what went on, and my wife even said later, I
can't believe what you went through. It's hard to explain,
but that was the way it was. I arrived the
hotel checked in. The first person I saw was my
(12:03):
former first stargant in Vietnam, and of course it was
great seeing him. But what was even greater when I
went to unload my vehicle, the door of the motel
room open and it was my first company commander, Roy Martin.
We started talking and it was easy for me from
then on to talk about my experiences. And like I said,
(12:27):
when we sat around in the hospitality room and started
talking among each other, the wife were hearing stories that
they had never heard, and they were flabbergasting and they
understood why we were did some of the things we did.
I mean, I was never violent towards my wife, but
(12:50):
i'd be short tempered. I have PTSD. I do you know,
go off on people. I don't know. I don't want
to say stupid people, but they hit me, they hit
me wrong, and I feel their students but I let
them know.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Pleasure heart.
Speaker 4 (13:11):
This is retired Lieutenant Colonel William McCarran, and he's written
a book and it's called And the Tears Flowed a
Vietnam veteran. Many Vietnam veterans have struggled with how to
share their experiences. How did it feel to remember that
time in your life and then put it down on paper.
Speaker 5 (13:28):
Well, I started that book years ago, Like I said,
I actually bought a computer in two thousand and three
with the main intention of writing your book. But then
I've sit down at the computer, try to put my
thoughts together, try to start putting stuff on paper, and
I just couldn't do it. I just I might write
a paragraph or something, and I just I can't do this.
(13:48):
I can't. My wife kept urging me. You know, she's deceased,
but she kept urging me, you need to put it
on paper, you need to write this book. So she
passed away in twenty seventeen. In twenty twenty three New
Year's Resolution, I said, I'm going to write that book,
(14:09):
and I'm going to finish it before I go to
my next Vietnam reunion. I kept a lot of stuff
so I could read it and pull it right back
into my memory. And then I could sit and start typing.
And that was going in and pulling out the pictures
of those who didn't make it, because that's what the
book's about. It's to recognizing these young men fought for
(14:34):
their country and died for their country. And I named
the book, and the tears flowed because people read the
book and they find out when we got ambushed and
I lost my radio telephone operator. He was killing action.
After that battle, like eleven o'clock at night, I'd gotten
people into position, and then I just sat down and
(14:54):
I couldn't stop crying.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
And the tears flowed. That's the name of the book,
and now we know why.
Speaker 5 (15:00):
Guess what it was the same after all the battle
the same. I guess the dramma just flown so strong,
and after it's all over, it just comes out. The
publishing company has thought I should come up with another title.
I said, no, that's the title I want.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Yeah, do you want to tell us about what you
remember most vividly about your time in Vietnam? The sites,
the sounds, the people. Is it just awful memories or
are there are some good memories in there too?
Speaker 5 (15:28):
There's always some good memories. I mean, I made friends,
we've stayed friends through all of you here. The sad
part is now most of the people I served with
they passed on, you know, they came home from Vietnam.
They live good lives, but they're now recent age where
I mean, let's say it, I'm eighty five years old.
Of course, most almost all of them that served when
(15:50):
I was there my first tour, they were like eighteen, nineteen,
twenty years old, and they're all they're all in the seventies,
our eighties now.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Yeah, yeah, so.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
Your living history, and we need to hear your stories.
And I'm glad you're doing it.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
But I had good memories of those, but then I've
had the bad memories. I'm not sure that people understand
the life of an infantryman. You go into the field,
you might be out there a couple of weeks and
then come back to base cap but it's dirty, Grammy.
You're always afraid gonna get ambushed. Most of us were
(16:33):
in constant fear that we're going to walk into something.
In my opinion, people have this vision that we're fighting
their farmers during the day and their guerrillas at night.
That's not true that these were well trained, well prepared soldiers,
North Vietnamese soldiers. That's mainly what we went up against.
(16:55):
We were fighting as well trained army. You know, the mosquitoes,
the heat that you just everything just it's always there.
I guess I'm connaissant, and you never get relief.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
You know, as we approach Veterans Day? What does that
day mean to you? Personally?
Speaker 5 (17:12):
It means everything. I lower my flag. I have a
statue of a soldier in my yard, and I adornate
with flags. I reflect always on the people's we lost.
If people look and read the book and see the
pictures of all the young men that just in our
(17:33):
battalion that died in the one year I was there,
they'd be amazed. I honor them all the time, not
just Veterans Day. I think about them all the time,
and I go to the reunion every year, and we
always had a memorial dinner in honor of those guys
that didn't make it.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
This book is called Again and the Tears Flowed?
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Colonel. How do they get a copy of your book?
Speaker 5 (17:58):
It's available?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
I am okay. Has it been therapeutic to kind of
share your story? Now.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
Absolutely, I've had a number of really nice compliments on
the book.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
We certainly are so grateful to you for your service
and your sacrifice in keeping our country safe and others
too around our world. And we are really grateful that
you wrote this book to and the tears flowed. You
can get it on Amazon and elsewhere. Thank you so
much for giving us your time today. Sir, take good
care of yourself and thank you again. God bless your heart.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
Gren I thank you appreciate opportunity to tell my story.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
I want to remind you that the twenty twenty five
Veterans Day Parade here in Indianapolis is on Tuesday, starting
at noon and Michigan and Pennsylvania the parade will grout.
The parade route will go south on penn to New
York and then north to Meridian Street. I hope you'll
come out stand along the sidewalks show them your appreciation.
I know it means the world to them to see
you all. And marines they're celebrating two hundred and fifty
(18:55):
years Tomorrow. We'll talk to a Marine veteran's mom after
the break. This is the first day news is next
see United States Marine Corps celebrating their two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary on November tenth with various events that are nationwide.
And knowing that, I began searching for info on the
Marine Corps history and I came upon a fantastic community
(19:17):
online at marineparents dot com. I'm so excited to meet
the founder and Marine Mom and joining us now is
Tracy Della Vecia.
Speaker 7 (19:25):
Hello, Tracy, Hi, Kerrie, thanks for inviting us to talk
with you. I appreciate it, but facular time to talk
about the Marine Corps.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
Before we talk about marineparents dot com. Tell us about
your incredible son, Derek, who was in Marine boot camp
on nine to eleven.
Speaker 1 (19:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (19:42):
Yeah, in boot camp on nine to eleven, and I
remember thinking, you know, he was there for two weeks
when nine to eleven happened, and I remember thinking, I've
got to get on a plane and I've got to
fly to San Diego and I've got a breaking home
and telling he's made a huge mistake. And I still
(20:04):
get teary eyed when I think about that. That that's
that's that's what I wanted to do. You know, our
country was going to go to war, and by going,
my son wasn't going to go to war.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
I was his.
Speaker 7 (20:13):
Protector and suddenly now he's my protector, and you know,
that's a that's a big change. That's a big, big
change for a mom who's, you know, afraid of war.
So it was it was pretty incredible. I can remember
coming back from what he flew back to Kansas City
(20:38):
with us, and then we drove to Columbia and where
you lived. There were American flags flying all over the place.
I'd never seen a fall with so much red, white
and blue in my life, and it was just incredible.
And I remember thinking that, you know, I had been
(21:00):
his protector and now he's my protector. And he's like,
don't worry, mom, that's what marines do.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
He knew he wanted to be a marine since he
was four.
Speaker 7 (21:11):
Yeah, four years old. Four years old, he would crawl
around on the back in the backyard, on his belly
and he was he was a marine. My dad had
was in the Vietnam War, and he had his black
jacket and combat boots and things like that. So there's this,
you know, little four year old boy putting on this
huge black jacket and these combat boots and crawling around
(21:32):
on his belly in the backyard.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
You say that the time leading up to his graduation,
which was Thanksgiving weekend, were the longest weeks of your life.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
Well, the inevitability of going to war. But at that
point in time I was I was pretty naive. I thought,
you know, they're not going to send the new grunts
to war. Little little did I know that that's exactly
who they send a war. So, I mean, everybody goes.
(22:02):
You know, you're in the Marine Corps. Everybody's going. So
it just set unease and uncertainty of you know, I'm
sending my kid to war. You know, I grew up
in a military family. And even my mother at that
time she said, I have no idea. She sent my
(22:23):
dad off to war many times, you know, taking to
a flight and he was going back to Vietnam again,
back to Vietnam again, and I remember her saying, I
just can't imagine sending your child. And it was one
thing to send my husband to war, but another thing
altogether to send your child. So, you know, the same
(22:43):
son that would tell me he didn't know how to
turn the vacuum cleaner on, and he's going to go
sling an M sixteen. So yeah, a little bit of
trepidation there.
Speaker 4 (22:54):
The accident that Derek was involved with during the war,
You say that it will affect him in a profound
way for the rest of his life.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Oh it does, and uh I mean I still get
cheers in my eyes when I think about that. You know,
he was he was a radio operator and uh so
the calm guy. You know, he pushed forward all day
long with the battalion and then the end of the
at the end of the day, you know, the com
guys go backwards to change the crypto and the communication
(23:24):
system to the enemy doesn't get ahold of the messages
and things like that, so they go back in a humpy.
And they had to arrive along an irrigation canal, and
the humpy rolled over in the canal and water filled
the humpy and his friend, his fellow marine, William White,
drowned in the humpy and Derek worked really really hard
(23:50):
to save William and it didn't work out. It didn't
work out.
Speaker 4 (23:56):
What a tragedy.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
It's so sad.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I hope that Derek is able to find some piece,
knowing that he did everything it could and was by
his side until the very end. How long did Derek serve.
Speaker 7 (24:09):
He served four years, so you know, he wanted to
be a marine for the rest of his life. You know,
when he was four years old, that's all he was
going to be with a marine. But you know, at
that point in time, he had done three combat tours
back and forth for Iraq, and you just that was
all the war he could do. So he changed his
(24:30):
mind and became a civilian.
Speaker 4 (24:32):
But then there's homecoming, hundreds of other parents and wives
and family, and you said that you have never experienced
anything is overwhelmingly joyous in your life.
Speaker 7 (24:42):
Yeah, a most incredible event, that's for sure. And I
can't even describe the emotion of actually finally seeing him again.
And it's funny. The things that I remember are that, wait,
you're still dirty. He still had stand on him. Some
funny that those are the things that kind of stand
out my mind now after twenty plus years ago, twenty
(25:02):
three years ago, and he had two toothbrushes in his
kevlar pockets. They have these little things at the front,
and one was gray gray, the other one of the
brustles were black. And I'm like, why do we need
too and why are you hanging on with these nasty
old toothbrushes. He's like, well, pulls out the one with
the gray and he's like, this is the one I
brush my teeth with, and then pull out the other one.
(25:23):
He's like, this is the one that I cleaned my
weapon with. And I'm like, no, you know. Yeah. So
that was one of the first conversations that we had
was about these these horrible toothbrushes. And we sent thousands
and thousands of care packages over tes to marines when
we when our country was engaged, very very proud moments
(25:45):
as marine parents being able to ship these toothbrushes to
our kids over.
Speaker 4 (25:51):
So tell us about marine parents dot Com, which you
began in two thousand and three, and what parents of
marines will find there.
Speaker 7 (25:59):
I started it because at that time there wasn't one
place where you could find all the information, and the
Marine Corps didn't have help helpful things for parents. They
certainly helped spouses and that kind of thing, but not
for the parents of the Marines. So I started this
as a way to connect marine parents together to talk
about it. What is it like to send your kid
(26:21):
to war, and then what's it like when your kid
gets injured and then sadly what's it like when your
kid is killed overseas? And all of those families came
together in this beautiful space of being able to talk
about those very raw emotions of having sent our kids
(26:44):
to war, you know, and so drough the years, it's
evolved and changed. Like I said, we did care packages
for a while, We had the Warrior Support Team for
a while, we had a Purple Heart Hero Support varying
different programs the organization would do depending on where we
were in service to our country. And today it's evolved
(27:08):
to the point, you know, we were not engaged any longer.
We do certainly have deployments, but they're not the combat
zones train all day and pray all night that train
the war and pray you don't have to go to wars.
So through the years we've evolved to a variety of
different things. Right now because we don't have our troops
aren't engaged, which means in combat, we're focused on boot
(27:32):
camp and helping parents get through boot camp. And you
know that immediate fear that you have as a parent,
Wait a minute, my son or my daughter wants to
be a marine? Are you kidding me? So they can
come on board at Marine Parents. We have a place
to connect and share and that's been our registered trademark
for since I started the organization and connect with other
(27:55):
parents and family members who understand what it's like to
know that your kid just on the dotted line that
he or she would give his life for his country.
That's big stuff, you know. So, yeah, that's a big deal.
A lot of weoking so along with that.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Well, the Marines are celebrating their two hundred and fiftieth
birthday on November tenth.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
With us is Tracy Della Vecchio.
Speaker 4 (28:18):
She is a Marine mom and she's founder of Marineparents
dot Com. There's an interesting story about where the Marines
were born two hundred and fifty years.
Speaker 7 (28:29):
Ago as Tons Taverns. Yeah, and the reality is that
they used the bar as a meeting place and to
recruit individuals. It was it was actually the recruiting station.
But yeah, it's very fitting that the Marine cole is
born at Ton Tavern. And where is Ton tab Ton
Tavern isn't Philadelphia, but I mean it's not there anymore.
(28:52):
They have a rendition of what they think Ton Tavern
looks like then, but there's no actual photos of Ton Tavern.
It's kind of like that mythical legendary Ton Taverns.
Speaker 4 (29:03):
In this season of gratitude, What are you most thankful
for this year in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 7 (29:08):
Oh gosh, one of the things that I'm most thankful
for is that we were able to leap off of
the Facebook platform into an entirely different platform that people
are like, wait a minute, I don't get it. I
don't understand this. We're still able to hold their hands.
They still followed us there, They're still connecting with one another.
(29:29):
And even though we made this nad leaf of snakes
out into this entirely new platform, we're all still together.
And that I am thankful for.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Tracy Della Vecchia.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
She is a marine mom and founder of marineparents dot Com.
What a great support system it is for marine parents.
I hope you'll check that out and thank you for
spending time with us today as we celebrate the United
States Marine Corps two hundred and fiftieth anniversary on November tenth.
Speaker 7 (29:58):
And here's for the next two one hundred and fifty
years of the worrying courts. Harry, thank you, I appreciate
you very much. Take care.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
She's terrific. It is eleven forty six. It is day forty,
ladies and gentlemen, of the government shut down. As it continues,
it is certainly affected travel. But if it would, it'll
see the government opens up tomorrow. I mean they're meeting
again today. We'll see what happens. But let's see it
would open up tomorrow. Does everything at the airport go
right back to normal like a like a light switch.
Speaker 3 (30:26):
Do flights run on time? No more delays, cancelations.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
We've got a travel expert that will join us next
here on the first day ninety three WIBC. It's eleven
fifty two colts trailing in this fourth quarter, fourteen minutes
to go, thirteen or seventeen thirteen colts behind.
Speaker 9 (30:43):
Come on.
Speaker 4 (30:44):
A lot of time on the clock, A lot of
time a clock on the clock in Berlin. It is
day forty of the government shut down. This country's a mess.
Let's just say it. FAA has reduced air traffic by
I think four percent on Friday across those high volume markets,
and India is on that list and saying ten percent
by the end of this week. If the shutdown continues again.
Senate meeting again today maybe later this afternoon, we'll see Kyle.
(31:07):
And I spoke with Amanda Steele. She's the owner of
Indie Travel Leaders indie travel leaders dot com, and we
asked her if if she's got if she's got a
flight going out tomorrow or in the next couple of days,
what concerns it would she have as a travel expert.
Speaker 9 (31:24):
So the first thing I would think of is ten percent.
It seems like a big number, but let's remember ten percent.
It's not huge. There will be some place impacted, but
ten percent we can manage that. First thing I would
tell myself, I'm going to get there early. If my
flight's at six am, I'm going to plan to get
there too. If not three hours ahead of that, the
earlier is the better, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
You know, we've got people that have asked us, you know, hey,
I'm thinking about Thanksgiving two weeks away. If the government
shutdown ends right now, does everything in the travel industry
then go right back to normal?
Speaker 9 (31:55):
It typically will. We have to think that this is
affecting the airlines and a whole big skill sledge your scale.
So they're going to try to get those routes back
in order as quick as they can. They want to
get back on schedule just as much as we want
them to get back on schedule. So knowing that Thanksgiving
is just around the corner, we've got Christmas, We've got
two of our biggest peak seasons coming up, they're going
to get back on tracks just as soon as they
(32:16):
absolutely can.
Speaker 6 (32:17):
The worry is if it doesn't, should people be looking
to change their holiday plans and work around something that
may continue into December.
Speaker 9 (32:26):
Absolutely, and that's one thing that will do so. As
travel agents, we always have to plan ahead. So I
know I have several clients that are traveling here this weekend.
I checked in with them just letting them know, you know, hey,
you could have a flight that's affected, Just letting them know.
Flexibility is important. Of course, we don't want to have
to pivot, we don't want to have to make changes,
but we can. A couple of things to keep in
(32:46):
mind when you're traveling downloading the airlines apps. If you're
traveling on America and if you're on Southwest, if you
have that app, it's such a pivotal tool when you're traveling.
That'll help you even chat with the airline directly, so
instead of waiting in that long line for customer service.
You can get on the chat and say, hey, my
flight's been affected, can you help me make that change?
An airlines skan, that's what we're here to do too.
(33:08):
We're kind of an airline backup in situations like that.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
What should we know about our rights as a passenger
if our trip is delayed or canceled.
Speaker 9 (33:16):
So, if your flight is canceled, if it's what they
if it's canceled or delayed significantly, with significant delays or
cancelations the airlines, you are entitled to a refund by
the airline. Now if it's a minor delay, if it's
a twenty thirty minute delay, that's a different story. If
it is a true cancelation, you are entitled to a refund,
assuming that you didn't book anything in a base economy fare.
(33:37):
If it's a true airline main cabin fare, that's something
to keep in mind.
Speaker 5 (33:41):
If it's a.
Speaker 9 (33:42):
Cancel's flight again delay is there a different story. If
it's in this connection, the airlines will help you rebook
those two.
Speaker 6 (33:48):
Kylan, I'm sure you've been giving a lot of ease
to your clients who are booking some travel plans right now,
especially with the government shut down that also has affected
air control traffic ployees. Have you had to do anything
or have you seen anything around that and some of
the shortage that we've had with air traffic controllers.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (34:08):
The one thing that I have noticed is the lines
at the airport for TSA to get the security They
are longer. So I'm just telling as many clients as
I can please get there early because you just never
know what to expect with those lines. That I think
is our biggest change right now, just with those wait times.
I know that a lot of the airports around the
country are feeling that they're busy. There's a lot of
(34:30):
passengers and unfortunately they just don't have the staff right
now to handle the amount of passengers that they have.
Speaker 3 (34:36):
Amanda Steele.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
She's the owner of Indie Travel Leaders indie travel leaders
dot com. They specialize in fun and family and romance. Okay,
any other tips or advice to our listeners right now
that are traveling here over the next few days, over
the next couple of weeks for holiday travel.
Speaker 9 (34:54):
Yes, the best thing I can tell you pack your patients.
Pack your patients. Be flexible. If you have to pivot,
you have to. I know we don't always like change that.
Sometimes we just don't have the option. Travel insurance is
a huge, huge feature. It's one of those that I
always will offer to my clients. You never know when
you might need and if you have a flight delay,
if you have them in the connection, that travel insurance
(35:15):
is just one more thing that we can fight for
if we need it.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
Is it ugly out there, it's a while.
Speaker 9 (35:20):
It's one of those I mean, we've been through it all.
This is just one more challenge at work, face to it.
But we're here to help. We're here to help our
clients and that's what we want to do.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
You're terrific, all right.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
If anybody would like to get in touch with Amanda
and her crew, you go to.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Again Indie travel leaders dot com. Amanda Steel. I'm sorry, Kylie,
I have.
Speaker 6 (35:38):
One more question. Yeah, we've talked so much about the
wild and the crazy, but you do specialize in fun
and family.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
That's right.
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Can we end on a flight there? Travel story that
you've had over this year like one of the best,
I don't know, one of the best trips that you've
planned this year.
Speaker 9 (35:52):
Especially Europe has been huge. I've had a lot with
Europe I've done a lot with river cruises, I've done
a lot with the Mediterranean Lasca. This year has been huge.
That's been a really big one. Gosh, I wish I
could say, you know, this is one that really stood out,
but we do so much around the world. It's every
trip to us being something. We appreciate all the clients
that trust us to build those trips for them.
Speaker 4 (36:14):
Amanda, thank you. We sure appreciate you come back and
see us.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
Absolutely, Thank you, guys, Thank you so much, Amanda, and
thank you for listening. Go cults and bundle up in
this weather ahead of us.
Speaker 7 (36:26):
I you.
Speaker 6 (36:26):
Marquette basketball coming up next on ninety three WIVC.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
Have a great week.
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